Soviet Refugees: Processing and Admittance to the United States
NSIAD-90-158
Published: May 09, 1990. Publicly Released: May 09, 1990.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO evaluated the Department of State's and Immigration and Naturalization Service's (INS) efforts to implement an amendment that required them to categorize Soviet refugee applicants and give certain applicants an enhanced opportunity to qualify for refugee status, focusing on: (1) the adequacy and timeliness of the adjudication process; (2) the adequacy of staffing for processing refugee applicants; (3) whether the agencies effectively phased out Soviet refugee processing in Rome; and (4) the cost of conducting refugee processing in both Rome and Moscow.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Immigration and Naturalization Service | Because the Lautenberg Amendment requires INS to state, to the maximum extent feasible, the reason for denying refugee status to category cases, and INS documentation of denial decisions has been a continuing problem, the Commissioner, INS, should direct INS supervisors to review denied category cases and certify that the documentation is sufficient to support the decision. |
Closed – Implemented
INS issued proforma refugee adjudication interview forms to ensure INS adjudicators document their rationale for approving or denying refugee claims, and issued guidance requiring INS supervisors to review all denials and certify that adequate documentation was provided.
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Topics
ConsulatesCost analysisEligibility determinationsImmigration and naturalization lawImmigrationInternational relationsRefugeesEmbassiesPublic officialsParole